Democrats Recruiting Challenger to Bentivolio in Michigan

Democrats may have landed a candidate to run for the House seat currently occupied by Republican Rep. Kerry Bentivolio.

Interim Wayne State University Law School Dean Jocelyn Benson attended Wednesday’s House Democratic Caucus meeting and told attendees she is considering a run for the seat, according to two Democratic sources.

One of the sources said that House Democrats had unsuccessfully attempted to recruit her in the past, but the current government shutdown is a source of motivation for her run.

Bentivolio is in potential re-election trouble in both the primary and the general. In September, attorney David Trott announced he would challenge the incumbent in the primary.

Bentivolio produced a grim Federal Election Commission report this week — he raised just $59,000 — but he picked up several local endorsements over the past two days.

Five state party vice-chairmen endorsed Bentivolio on Tuesday, according to his Facebook page. Also, Michigan Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema endorsed Bentivolio on Wednesday, per a news release.